Archives | Dunfermline 3 Hamilton Academical 2

Hamilton Academical were the visitors to KDM Group East End Park for the first time in almost three years searching for their first win there since April 2013. On the back of home wins over Alloa Athletic and Airdrieonians, Dunfermline were hoping to extend their run of home wins to three. Manager James McPake made four changes for this game. Lewis McCann returned from injury alongside Taylor Sutherland, Sam Young and Chris Hamilton. That meant a place on the bench for Joe Chalmers, Josh Cooper, David Wotherspoon and Dapo Mebude.

Hamilton manager John Rankin handed starts to former Pars Jackson Longridge and Kyle Macdonald meaning Stephen Bradley and Stuart McKinstry found themselves on the subs bench beside another well known face at East End, Nikolay Todorov.

O`Hara`s fifth minute shot was the first attempt of the match but that landed in the McCathie Stand. Taylor Sutherland responded for Dunfermline who then forced the first corner but when that reached Aaron Comrie at the far post he sent the ball wide. Tobi Oluwayemi pulled off a fine interception on the top of his box when Oli Shaw burst on towards him.

A Matty Todd cut back for Ritchie-Hosler won the first of two 11th minute corners from the right. It was Todd who curled the ball into the goalmouth requiring keeper Charlie Albinson to turn the ball over his crossbar. Hamilton`s first corner came in 21 minutes when Young diverted Reghan Tumilty`s dangerous cross from the right over his crossbar. Oluwayemi dealt with the corner but Hamilton continued to try and hit on the counter with the offside trap catching them out more than once or twice.

There was an opportunity for two long throw ins from McCann deep into the heart of the Hamilton penalty box but the defence came out on top. It was 34th minute when Sutherland won the ball deep down the right and he tracked inside to pick out Kieran Ngwenya whose shot from 20 yards was deflected for a corner. The home fans were outraged when Chris Hamilton was shown a yellow card that referee Iain Snedden obviously saw differently.

It was a first half in which neither keeper was really tested and despite a late move that saw Comrie and Otoo send the ball into the Accies box it was goalless at the break. Remarkably Shaw completely missed the low cross in from O`Hara in time added on that might have changed that.

Half time: Dunfermline 0 Hamilton Academical 0

Joe Chalmers replaced Chris Hamilton for the second half and the Pars contained their opponents in their own half for the first five minutes during which McCann fired a shot on target that was blocked. Connor Smith avoided a yellow card when he dumped Todd out of touch but from the free kick Chalmers picked out McCann on the edge of the Accies box but their defence did its job.

Tumilty shot wildly wide right from the Lanarkshire men`s first sortie of the half in 55 minutes but the goal that Dunfermline had pushed for came next minute. Matty TODD took charge of a free kick 30 yards out near the left touchline. His delivery invited a touch but with no one going near it, Albinson was shocked to see the ball bounce in his goalmouth to find the net at the right goalpost. 1-0

The Fifers kept up the pressure on their visitors. Todd fed Ritchie-Hosler to his right and his cross sat up for Otoo but his aim was narrowly wide left. A low McCann drive won another corner but Hamilton survived that before Dapo Mebude replaced Taylor Sutherland.

Accies successfully moved play up the park and from a free kick that had earned Otoo a yellow card they fed the ball to Hendrie whose cross found them a 74th minute equaliser. It was central defender Sean McGINTY who powered the header past Oluwayemi. 1-1

In 81 minutes Josh Cooper was introduced for Matty Todd who had given his all and two minutes later COOPER shot the Fifers back into the lead. Mebude raced away down the right on to an Comrie clearance and released the ball at just the right time for the sub to slot the ball home left footed to the the bottom right. 2-1

Dunfermline did not relent and pressed with more corners. Cooper took charge of the 89th minute corner from the left and to great delight the ball sneaked into the Hamilton net yet again. The ball landed amongst a crowded six yard box and it was a delicate back flick from COMRIE that got the final touch. 3-1

A comfortable victory was given a late fright when Hamilton were awarded a penalty from a clumsy Craig Clay challenge and they made it 3-2 in 90+4 minutes. That was to be all there was time for and Dunfermline`s three points lifted them to sixth place level on points with their opponents, Raith Rovers and Morton.

DUNFERMLINE: Tobi Oluwayemi: Aaron Comrie, Sam Young, Kyle Benedictus (c), Kieran Ngwenya: Kane Ritchie-Hosler, Chris Hamilton (Joe Chalmers HT), Ewan Otoo (Craig Clay 85): Matty Todd (Josh Cooper 81), Lewis McCann: Taylor Sutherland (Dapo Mebude 69).
SUBS NOT USED: David Wotherspoon, Sam Fisher, Tommy Fogarty, Michael O`Halloran, Deniz Mehmet (GK)
SCORERS: Todd (56), Cooper (83) Comrie (89)
YELLOW CARDS: Hamilton (35), Otoo (74)

HAMILTON: Charlie Albinson: Reghan Tumilty, Jackson Longridge, Sean McGinty, Stephen Hendrie: Connor Smith (Ben Williamson 65), Kyle Macdonald (Nikolay Todorov 86), Scott Martin (c), Jamie Barjonas (Euan Henderson 65), Oli Shaw, Kevin O`Hara (Stephen Bradley 86).
SUBS NOT USED: Barry Maguire, Stuart McKinstry, Oludare Olufunwa, Liam Morgan, Dean Lyness (GK)
SCORERS: McGinty (74), Shaw (90+4 pen.)

REFEREE: Iain Snedden
ATTENDANCE: 4286 (inc 139 away fans)
WEATHER: Damp 6°C

50/50 Prize Winner
Winning Ticket Number 12741
Prize Amount £576

NEXT MATCH: William Hill Championship, (away) v Raith Rovers, Saturday 14th December 2024, kick off 3.00pm. at Stark`s Park.

Related Stories

• Edinburgh City 1 Dunfermline 2
• Ayr United 1 Dunfermline 0
• Dunfermline 1 Airdrieonians 0
• Dunfermline 0 Partick Thistle 1